The flu jumped on with both feet the day after I ate at #1 Diner, so I apologize for being late.
Honestly, this big ’ol, hand-pattied masterpiece of a burger put me down for a nap, so I would have been late either way.
Allie warmly greeted us when we walked in and gave us our choice of a booth or a table. In just a few moments, Heaven came over and took our order. I kept true to form, ordering a double cheeseburger all the way with chili cheese fries. My brother Mark joined me for lunch and ordered the daily special spaghetti plate. While we’re mainly here to talk about burgers in this article, Mark said the spaghetti was great!
Our wait was consistent with the amount of time it would take to cook a burger to order. Regulars filed into the lobby while we waited, greeting each other warmly and sitting at what I assumed were their usual tables. Show me a clean restaurant in a city with plenty of choices that manages to draw a regular crowd in good numbers, and I’ll know where to find a great meal. #1 Diner is one of those places.
Speaking of great meals, I saw that burger take a right turn out of the kitchen before Heaven appeared behind it. You can check out the pictures to see what arrived, but those pictures won’t tell you this:
The patties were perfect. They had just enough bite to stay together but were super tender due to not being overhandled. The flavor was wonderful, the slaw and chili were obviously house-made, and the bun was very fresh.
The chili cheese fries were exactly what I was looking for: crisp, perfectly cooked fries, piping-hot chili, and a generous amount of cheese. I don’t like getting close to the bottom of the bowl and finding an absence of chili and cheese, and #1 Diner doesn’t disappoint in this respect. Jenny, Debbie and Shelby were busy, consistently preparing everyone’s meals with obvious love for their mission.
Just before we got ready to leave, Heaven popped back around offering a slice of cake that I didn’t really need but suddenly wanted. If you ever witness me say no to cake, call the hostage negotiation team, because I’m plainly acting against my will. No surprise, the cake was a fantastically rich German chocolate cake, like my mom would have made.
#1 Diner is only a few minutes south of Rockingham on U.S. 1 and is more than worth the short trip.
John White is a photographer and lover of food who lives in Hamlet.
